ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS For years, I’ve added a packet of stevia to my morning coffee. I chose stevia as a zero-calorie alternative to traditional processed sugar because it’s derived directly from the leaves of the stevia plant and packaged without any processing or chemical bleaching. However, I’ve often heard that sugar substitutes, including stevia, may not be especially healthy. Curious to find out the truth, I turned to a trusted online source to see whether these artificial sweeteners are indeed safe for you and me. In this post, I share excerpts from a January 10, 2023, Mayo Clinic article titled Artificial...
SHINGLES SHOT MIGHT ALSO PROTECT YOUR BRAIN I’m excited to share some encouraging news with you this week. A new study shows that getting the shingles vaccine may lower our risk of developing dementia by 20% over the next seven years. The research was just published last Wednesday in the journal Nature. (Please also see my November 2023 post Getting Your Vaccinations Could Spare You From Alzheimer’s) Here are excerpts from an April 2, 2025, Associated Press article by Lauran Neergaard, titled Shingles is awful, but here’s another reason to get vaccinated: It may fight dementia. — A vaccine to...
FUNNY WAYS TIME IS SNEAKING UP ON YOU I subscribe to daily emails from The New York Times, though I get so many that I don’t open half of them. But a couple of weeks ago, one caught my eye with its whimsical tone and relatable topic. Since we seniors are all in this together, I thought I’d share some highlights from this recent “Well” article by Jancee Dunn, titled 4 Weird Signs You’re Getting Older (March 15, 2025). (I’m sure you could add a few more quirky ways time is creeping up on you!) Crooked Lower Teeth My lower...
U.S. NEWS 2025 BEST DIET RANKINGS It’s that time of year again! I’m sharing the latest list of top diets according to U.S. News—a tradition I’ve kept up for eight years now. Below are highlights from their newly updated article, published online on March 19, 2025, by Johna Burdeos, RD, LD, titled U.S. News Reveals the 2025 Best Diets. Best Diets Overall 2025 If your goal is to manage your weight long-term and eat healthfully, try one of these science-backed diets that work. Each earns top marks from our panel of leading medical and nutritional experts specializing in diabetes, heart...
WALK, RUN, OR A BIT OF BOTH? Do you remember that old 1960 hit by The Ventures, “Walk, Don’t Run”? Ever wonder why they didn’t flip it to “Run, Don’t Walk”? Either way, it fits the theme of this week’s post: should you walk, run, or combine the two? Personally, I like to do a mix. These days, I start with a half-mile walk to warm up, then jog for five minutes, followed by a brisk one-minute walk, and repeat that cycle until I hit 5K (3.1 miles). Maybe you’ve been thinking about adding more exercise to your routine—whether it’s...
READY OR NOT, WE’RE SPRINGING FORWARD TO DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME I’m late with this post—as it includes suggestions on preparing a few days in advance (rather than just a few hours until Sunday morning) to “spring” your clock ahead to daylight saving time from standard time. Personally, I’m ready for the change. Every day, my cat insists on waking me at sunrise for his breakfast. With the time shift, I’ll have a chance to wake up on my own—though this “reset” is temporary as we approach the summer solstice. Despite the tardiness of this post, I believe you’ll find the...
HOW TO GET A FREE ONLINE HEARING TEST Growing up, my parents had me take multiple hearing tests. Each time the results were the same—my hearing was perfect. The real issue was my “selective hearing,” especially when it came to finishing homework or doing chores. Well, my hearing—now as an old man—is still pretty sharp. But for countless seniors, hearing loss is a serious concern. Despite this, many older adults hesitate to visit an audiologist. Fortunately, free online hearing tests are now available. While they may not be as accurate as a full evaluation by a licensed Doctor of Audiology,...
GOOD NEWS FOR CHOCOLATE LOVERS I love chocolate in almost every form, but from now on, I’m sticking with dark chocolate. No problem! The idea that cocoa-rich dark chocolate offers health benefits isn’t new, thanks to its polyphenols, which help reduce inflammation and lower blood pressure. But now, there’s even better news! A recent study suggests that consuming about an ounce of dark (not milk) chocolate daily may lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. If you, like me, are a chocolate lover, that’s a pretty tasty discovery! Check out these excerpts from the December 5, 2024, NPR.org article...
ARE YOU TAKING MULTIPLE MEDICATIONS? UNDERSTANDING POLYPHARMACY Polypharmacy refers to the daily use of five or more prescription medications. It’s particularly common among adults managing multiple chronic conditions, often under the care of different doctors. This trend continues to rise, fueled by an increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and the influence of pharmaceutical advertising. According to the CDC, the majority of U.S. adults over 40 take at least one prescription drug, and 22% rely on five or more. If this sounds familiar, keep reading. Below are excerpts from the February 1, 2025 Harvard Health Letter (my go-to source) article by...
JOURNAVX, THE NEW NON-OPIOID PAINKILLER Ten days ago, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new type of painkiller that doesn’t carry the risk of addiction associated with opioid medications. Suzetrigine, the drug, will be sold under the brand name Journavx and is the first new class of pain medicine approved in more than 20 years. This is great news to us seniors, especially those who suffer from moderate-to-severe pain. Here are highlights from the January 30, 2025 WashingtonPost.com article by Daniel Gilbert and Rachel Roubein, FDA approves new non-opioid painkiller Journavx. The drug represents the first new class of...
